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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Harry G, post: 8308519, member: 105282&quot;]Hi all!</p><p><br /></p><p>A coin I&#039;ve been waiting for finally arrived today - a sole reign antoninianus of Vabalathus.</p><p><br /></p><p>Vabalathus was the eight year old ruler of the Palmyrene empire, along with his mother, Zenobia. From 270 - 272AD, Zenobia issued coins in Aurelian and Vabalathus&#039; names, which give Vabalathus the title of <i><b>Vir Clarissimus, Rex, Imperator, Dux Romanorvm</b></i>, which translates as <b>Man Most Illustrious, King, Emperor, Leader of the Romans</b>. This seems a little unlikely, given Vabalathus was too young to even be considered a man.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, during 272AD, Aurelian invaded the Palmyra, after a long truce between the empires. Vabalathus was proclaimed Augustus, and some rare antoninianii were issued at Antioch mint between March and May of that year, with the interesting legend <i>IM C VHABALATHVS AVG.</i> The spelling of &quot;<i>Vhabalathus</i>&quot; rather than &quot;<i>Vabalathus</i>&quot; and &quot;<i>IM</i>&quot; rather than &quot;<i>IMP</i>&quot;, is likely down to the inexperience of the Greek die engravers that were employed to strike the emergency coins. This is also shown on the reverse of some coins, by using the letter Greek letter ε rather than E.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, here&#039;s my new addition:</p><p><br /></p><p>IM C VHABALATHVS AVG/V<font size="6">ε</font>NVS AVG</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1470559[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Yes, I know, it&#039;s not exactly going to win any beauty contests.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, this coin was in a large lot in a recent Art &amp; Coins auction on Biddr, and I managed to snipe it for around £40 including postage (including the 19 other coins lol). Generally ants of Vabalathus tend to go for a significant amount of money, so I&#039;m really pleased to get this one for a bargain price. It will go nicely next to my other antoninianus of Vabalathus that is in significantly nicer condition, which I also managed to get very cheaply (but this time as a single coin for around £30 on eBay).</p><p><br /></p><p>IM C VHABALATHVS AVG/A<font size="6">ε</font>T<font size="6">ε</font>RNITAS AVG</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1470558[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I hope you enjoyed reading my small write up (the first I&#039;ve done), and hope you liked the crusty coin!</p><p><br /></p><p>Please show me some decrepit rarities, an antoninianus of Vabalathus (or Vabalathus &amp; Aurelian), or anything else that might be relevant![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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